Chemical Protective Clothing (CPC)

Protective clothing is designed to prevent direct contact of a chemical contaminant with the skin or body of the user. There is, however, no one single material that will afford protection against all substances. As a result, multilayered garments may be employed in specific situations despite their negative impact on dexterity and agility. CPC is designed to afford the wearer a known degree of protection from a known type, a known concentration, and a known length of exposure to a hazardous material, but only if it is properly fitted and worn correctly. Improperly used equipment can expose the wearer to danger. Another factor to keep in mind when selecting CPC is that most protective clothing is designed to be impermeable to moisture, thus limiting the transfer of heat from the body through natural evaporation. This is a particularly important factor in hot environments or for strenuous tasks since such garments can increase the likelihood of heat-related injuries. Research is now underway to develop lightweight suits that are breathable but still protective against a wide range of chemicals. Cooling vests are sometimes used in warm weather situations to keep the body temperature normal, but with mixed results.

Essential to any protective ensemble are chemical resistant boots with steel toe and shank. Chemical resistant inner and outer layered gloves must also be worn. Compatibility charts should be consulted to determine the appropriate type of boot and gloves to use, since no one material presently provides protection against all known chemicals. Wearing multiple layers of gloves impairs dexterity and makes performing basic aspects of patient assessment (e.g., checking breathing, taking a pulse) difficult without constant practice.

The effectiveness of CPC can be reduced by three actions: degradation, permeation, and penetration.

Chemical degradation occurs when the characteristics of the material in use are altered through contact with chemical substances or aging. Examples of degradation include cracking and brittleness, and other changes in the structural characteristics of the garment. Degradation can also result in an increased permeation rate through the garment.

Permeation is the process by which chemical compounds cross the protective barrier of CPC because of passive diffusion. The rate at which a compound permeates CPC is dependent on factors such as the chemical properties of the compound, the nature of the protective barrier in the CPC, and the concentration of the chemical on the surface of the protective material. Most CPC manufacturers provide charts on the breakthrough time the time it takes for a chemical to permeate the material of a protective suit for a wide range of chemical compounds.

Penetration occurs when there is an opening or a puncture in the protective material. These openings can include unsealed seams, buttonholes, and zippers. Often such openings are the result of faulty manufacture or problems with the inherent design of the suit.
Protective clothing is available in a wide assortment of forms, ranging from fully-encapsulated body suits to gloves, hard hats, earplugs, and boot covers. CPC comes in a variety of materials, offering a range of protection against a number of chemicals. Emergency medical personnel must evaluate the properties of the chemical versus the properties of the protective material. Selection of the appropriate CPC will depend on the specific chemical(s) involved, and on the specific tasks to be performed.